Alarm device



A. JAEGER ALARM DEVICE May 19, 1936.

Filed April 21, 1952 w w wm W am 0 Patented May 19, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALARM DEVICE Albin J aeger, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application April 21, 1932-, Serial No. 606,625

2' Claims. (01. 177. 311) This invention relates to improvements in alarm devices, particularly to adevice for sounding an alarm as soon as the water level in a bath tub rises above a certain predetermined level.

It is the principal object of my invention to provide such a device in which a fioat adjustable in vertical direction along a suitable guide member closes the alarm circuit as soon as the float has reached a predetermined position. controlled by the rising water level in a bath tub to audibly announce this fact, thus calling the attention of the attendant to the fact that the water supply should be shut off.

Another object of my invention is the provision of an alarm device for bath tubs which can readily be attached to the wall of a bathroom and which is made in two parts hinged together to allow a folding of the device out of the way of a person taking a bath.

A further object of my invention is the provision of an alarm device of comparatively simple and inexpensive construction yet durable and efficient in operation.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of an alarm device announcing the impending overflowing of a bath-tub in which circuit closers of novel and improved construction and arrangement are used.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will become more fully known as the description thereof proceeds, and will then be specifically defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a bath tub equipped with an alarm device constructed according to my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the alarm device on a somewhat enlarged scale.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the same.

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Fig, 5 is a top plan view of the hinge plate.

Fig. 6 is a section on line 66 of Figure 5.

Fig. 7 is a perspective View of the contact arrangement.

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of the battery and bell container with its cover plate removed.

As illustrated, my alarm device comprises a block or elongated support II] to which is hingedly connected, as at H, and II, a plate |2 the outer end of which carries an angular bracket l3 having one of its branches provided with openings allowing the passage of fastening means M for securing the device to the wall of a bath room l5 just above the upper edge of the bath tub l6. From the front edge of support [0 are vertically depending the metal rods or bars I! and I8 substantially parallel to each other and spaced from one another.

The rod H is preferably circular in cross-section while the rod I8 has a square cross-section and the outer ends of both rods l1 and I8 are connected by a plate IQ of insulating material.

A sleeve 20 having an axialaperture square in cross-section to fit the square rod I8 is slidably guided on rod I8 and can be locked in any of its adjusted positions to rod I8 by means of a set screw 2|.

A contact bar 22 having an angular contact finger 23 at its inner end is pivotally attached as at 23' to a boss on sleeve 20 and carries at its outer end a float 24.

Metal bar I1 is connected by means of a conductor wire 25 guided properly insulated through support In to a leaf spring contact 26, held spaced from the hinge when the device is in inoperative or folded position. A metal plate 21 Within plate [2 extends longitudinally therethrough. Rod or bar E8 is connected by a conductor wire 28 guided through support It) properly insulated in a suitable manner, to a contact plate 29 forming part of the hinge II' at the end of a metal plate 30 longitudinally extending in plate |2 through the same, but spaced from plate Bl.

A box 3| having a removable cover is attached to the underside of plate I2, and within this box pole screws 32, 33, are provided to which the inner ends of metal plates 21, 30, are conductively connected.

Pole screws 32, 33, are held to one side of a cross bar 34 on plate I2 to the opposite side of which bar contact springs 35, 36, are secured in engagement with the poles of battteries 31, 38, composed of a plurality of coupled elements, the other poles of which are connected by means of wires 39, 40, to the pole screws of an electric bell 4|.

In use, the device is attached to the wall of a bath room just above the upper edge of a bath tub and support It is turned about its hinges I in alignment with plate l2.

The sleeve 20 is now locked to rod I8 at the proper height above the bottom of the bath tub by means of set screw 2| with the contact finger 23 of the float rod 22 out of engagement with rod N.

If the swimmer 24 upon the rising of the water within the bath tub to a predetermined level, determined by the position of the sleeve, has as sumed an approximately horizontal position, it will engage finger 23 with rod I1 and thus a circuit will be closed over bell 4| which will sound the alarm.

It will be understood that I have described and shown the preferred form of my device as one example only of the many possible Ways to practically construct the same, and that I may make such changes in its general arrangement and in the construction of the minor details thereof, as come within the scope of the appended claims without departure from the spirit of my invention, and the principles involved.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An alarm device for audibly indicating the rise of the water level in a bathtub above a certain pre-determined point, comprising a support, a plate hingedly connected with said support at two separate points, said support adapted to be folded upon said plate when the device is not in use, a pair of parallel metal rods depending from said support insulated from one another, one of said rods being circular in cross section and the other non-circular in cross section, a sleeve having an opening of non-circular cross-section permitting it to slide on said rod having non-circular cross section and prevented from turning on said rod, means for securing said sleeve on its rod in any of its adjusted positions, a source of current and an electric alarm and a circuit in which said metal rods and alarm are located, a

float having an arm of conducting material pivoted intermediate its ends on said sleeve to provide a contact finger normally held out of contact with the other of said rods, said finger engaging the rod of circular cross section as soon as the float arm assumes a substantially horizontal position on the water level to close the circuit and sound the alarm.

2. In an alarm device comprising a support, a pair of parallel metal rods depending from said support spaced from one another, one of said rods having a round, and the other a square crosssection, an insulating means connecting the lower end of said rods, a sleeve having an axial aperture square in crosssection to fit the square rod and slidable thereon, a means to lock said sleeve to said rod at any desired point thereof, a boss on said sleeve, a pivot pin on said boss, an arm of conducting material pivoted to said pin intermediate its ends, a contact at the inner end of c said arm, a float at the outer end of said arm for operating said contact, conductors connected to the ends of said rods, and a source of electricity to which the other ends of said conductors are connected, an alarm, and a circuit in which said alarm, rods and source of electricity are located, said contact closing the alarm circuit upon its engagement with the rod having the round crosssection determined by the adjustment of said sleeve on its rod and the rise of the float on the Water level to a pre-determined point.

ALBIN J AEGER. 

